Why INEC must shelve planned constituencies delineation —Nworgu, former Secretary-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo

Former Secretary-General of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr Joe Nworgu, speaks with JUDE OSSAI on the planned delineation of constituencies.

WHAT in your view should be the basis for the delineation exercise announced by INEC?

There is no basis for delineation, as anybody who delineates based on the current population census is not truthful to himself. At the moment, any use of controversial census figures carries injustices; therefore, INEC should wait for proper census and not work on fictitious figures that are not acceptable to all of us.

Secondly, no delineation should be based on current local government structure, which is also a bone of contention. So, INEC must not be innovative which the current parameter. Is it school enrollment?  Adult taxation returns? They cannot rely on the inbuilt injustices. They should wait until the country is restructured. No basis for delineation for now. I repeat; there is inbuilt structural injustice in the system. Nobody should be excited about delineation, as the situation is not normal.

 So, what do you think should be the commission’s ultimate goal and why?

What concerns me?  They should stop wasting their time. It is until when the situation is addressed and injustice redressed that one can talk of ultimate goal and why.

But what do you think are the fundamental factors that guide INEC in conducting the exercise?

It doesn’t concern me. I am not encouraged by what you are asking me. The foundation is faulty; there should be restructuring before we talk of what factors that should guide INEC. Any other posturing does not appeal to me.